Former Marks and Spencer boss called in to help East Lancs hospitals

THE former boss of Marks and Spencer could help choose the new chief executive of East Lancashire’s hospitals.

The government has appointed Sir Stuart Rose to help attract top leaders to transform England’s most troubled health trusts, focusing particularly on those in special measures, such as East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Royal Blackburn and Burnley General have already seen some key changes in leadership in the past year, but still needs a permanent chief executive.

Sir Stuart, who left M&S in 2010 and is now chairman of Ocado, said: "Clearly, the NHS is a very different institution from M&S, but leadership, motivating staff and creating a culture where people are empowered to do things differently are crucial to the success of any organisation, and I'm looking forward to helping in any way I can."

Conservative health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said: "The difference between good and bad care can often lie in leadership, which is why I am delighted that one of the country's most inspirational leaders has agreed to advise me on how we can attract and retain the brightest and best managers into the NHS, so we transform the culture in under-performing hospitals."

But Azhar Ali, a Labour councillor in Pendle and chairman of Lancashire’s Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “I think it’s absolutely crazy for the government to treat our hospitals like they are retail business outlets.

“There is too much focus on business management in the NHS, and on privatisation, when what we need is better patient care.

“Our hospitals need to be given money for more capacity and staff, which would take some of the pressure away, not a political stunt like this.”

Jim Birrell, a respected ‘troubleshooter’ and former boss of Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was made interim chief executive of ELHT, following the departure of Mark Brearley in December.

Comments

Loving lances
1:35pm Sat 15 Feb 14

Councillor Ali says it's crazy to treat our hospitals as retail outlets.
Well not as crazy as appointing useless political deadbeats as former county council leader Hazel Harding as chair if the trust. Mrs Harding convenently stepped down last summer just before the trust was put into special measures.
Retail outlets survive by satisfying customers. The NHS has a record in recent years of cruelty, arrogance, bureaucracy, overmanagement, , union-bullying and billions of pounds in compensation payments to patients.

Councillor Ali says it's crazy to treat our hospitals as retail outlets.
Well not as crazy as appointing useless political deadbeats as former county council leader Hazel Harding as chair if the trust. Mrs Harding convenently stepped down last summer just before the trust was put into special measures.
Retail outlets survive by satisfying customers. The NHS has a record in recent years of cruelty, arrogance, bureaucracy, overmanagement, , union-bullying and billions of pounds in compensation payments to patients.Loving lances

Councillor Ali says it's crazy to treat our hospitals as retail outlets.
Well not as crazy as appointing useless political deadbeats as former county council leader Hazel Harding as chair if the trust. Mrs Harding convenently stepped down last summer just before the trust was put into special measures.
Retail outlets survive by satisfying customers. The NHS has a record in recent years of cruelty, arrogance, bureaucracy, overmanagement, , union-bullying and billions of pounds in compensation payments to patients.

Score: 5

Malthus
2:25pm Sat 15 Feb 14

Hasn't the value of Marks and Spencer shares plummeted over the last decade. Once it was a prestigious company and now it's value is plummeting and has been for some time. I was wondering if Sir Stuart Rose was ever in charge of M&S during one of M&S' profit downturns? If so why employ someone who has presided over a failing company to oversee an organisation that is struggling. The phrase "blind leading the blind" springs to mind. By the way the Daily Telegraph reported on the 7/2/13 that the CEO of Ocado stated they expect "another year of annual losses and warning it is also unlikely to make a profit in 2013." Draw your own conclusions.

Hasn't the value of Marks and Spencer shares plummeted over the last decade. Once it was a prestigious company and now it's value is plummeting and has been for some time. I was wondering if Sir Stuart Rose was ever in charge of M&S during one of M&S' profit downturns? If so why employ someone who has presided over a failing company to oversee an organisation that is struggling. The phrase "blind leading the blind" springs to mind. By the way the Daily Telegraph reported on the 7/2/13 that the CEO of Ocado stated they expect "another year of annual losses and warning it is also unlikely to make a profit in 2013." Draw your own conclusions.Malthus

Hasn't the value of Marks and Spencer shares plummeted over the last decade. Once it was a prestigious company and now it's value is plummeting and has been for some time. I was wondering if Sir Stuart Rose was ever in charge of M&S during one of M&S' profit downturns? If so why employ someone who has presided over a failing company to oversee an organisation that is struggling. The phrase "blind leading the blind" springs to mind. By the way the Daily Telegraph reported on the 7/2/13 that the CEO of Ocado stated they expect "another year of annual losses and warning it is also unlikely to make a profit in 2013." Draw your own conclusions.

Score: 8

Interocitor
4:03pm Sat 15 Feb 14

When I heard this news I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

When I heard this news I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.Interocitor

When I heard this news I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Score: 8

phil kernot
4:38pm Sat 15 Feb 14

Nowt like all pigs with there faces in the trough ,, How can. A retail failed employee give advice the nhs , we're talking about lives here not a few cakes that are past there sell by date ,,, he's there to. Cut services simple as that , people that have private health insurance should not be employed by the nhs especially Managers ,, as thay wouldn't no what its like in the real world,,,, we need to sack all the managers at the nhs as thay couldn't organise a **** up in a brewery ,,, funny how thay all step down and go on leave for personal reasons , when the going gets tough ,, but thay walk back straight in when the dust has settled.

Nowt like all pigs with there faces in the trough ,, How can. A retail failed employee give advice the nhs , we're talking about lives here not a few cakes that are past there sell by date ,,, he's there to. Cut services simple as that , people that have private health insurance should not be employed by the nhs especially Managers ,, as thay wouldn't no what its like in the real world,,,, we need to sack all the managers at the nhs as thay couldn't organise a **** up in a brewery ,,, funny how thay all step down and go on leave for personal reasons , when the going gets tough ,, but thay walk back straight in when the dust has settled.phil kernot

Nowt like all pigs with there faces in the trough ,, How can. A retail failed employee give advice the nhs , we're talking about lives here not a few cakes that are past there sell by date ,,, he's there to. Cut services simple as that , people that have private health insurance should not be employed by the nhs especially Managers ,, as thay wouldn't no what its like in the real world,,,, we need to sack all the managers at the nhs as thay couldn't organise a **** up in a brewery ,,, funny how thay all step down and go on leave for personal reasons , when the going gets tough ,, but thay walk back straight in when the dust has settled.

Score: 0

Excluded again
9:02pm Sat 15 Feb 14

The sandwiches will improve. The clothing will go through several expensive revamps but still look dowdy and out-of-date. Local suppliers will be dropped and outsourced to the far East. The number of employees will be reduced in order to cut costs.

Whilst the brand will remain much loved by the British public, the share price will fall (for those who think the NHS will not have a share price, you've not been paying attention for the last 3 years).

The sandwiches will improve. The clothing will go through several expensive revamps but still look dowdy and out-of-date. Local suppliers will be dropped and outsourced to the far East. The number of employees will be reduced in order to cut costs.
Whilst the brand will remain much loved by the British public, the share price will fall (for those who think the NHS will not have a share price, you've not been paying attention for the last 3 years).Excluded again

The sandwiches will improve. The clothing will go through several expensive revamps but still look dowdy and out-of-date. Local suppliers will be dropped and outsourced to the far East. The number of employees will be reduced in order to cut costs.

Whilst the brand will remain much loved by the British public, the share price will fall (for those who think the NHS will not have a share price, you've not been paying attention for the last 3 years).

Score: 9

mavrick
7:00pm Sun 16 Feb 14

The final nails in the NHS coffin. people still don't believe it is happening. This is the by far the most savage attack on a public service ever witnessed. I hope those who supported this coalition are the first to suffer the consequences of their actions, The people who have allowed this through inaction and apathy deserve all they get. The truth will hit like a bomshell and the next government will not be able to reverse it. American health insurers are gloating all the way to the banks.

The final nails in the NHS coffin. people still don't believe it is happening. This is the by far the most savage attack on a public service ever witnessed. I hope those who supported this coalition are the first to suffer the consequences of their actions, The people who have allowed this through inaction and apathy deserve all they get. The truth will hit like a bomshell and the next government will not be able to reverse it. American health insurers are gloating all the way to the banks.mavrick

The final nails in the NHS coffin. people still don't believe it is happening. This is the by far the most savage attack on a public service ever witnessed. I hope those who supported this coalition are the first to suffer the consequences of their actions, The people who have allowed this through inaction and apathy deserve all they get. The truth will hit like a bomshell and the next government will not be able to reverse it. American health insurers are gloating all the way to the banks.

Score: 1

Sue Lee
11:26am Mon 17 Feb 14

Isn't giving the apparition of power to GPs in the CCGs like putting all education powers in the hands of primary schools heads, but universities aloofly seeing themselves as elite powers unto themselves, just like hospital consultants?

Isn't giving the apparition of power to GPs in the CCGs like putting all education powers in the hands of primary schools heads, but universities aloofly seeing themselves as elite powers unto themselves, just like hospital consultants?Sue Lee

Isn't giving the apparition of power to GPs in the CCGs like putting all education powers in the hands of primary schools heads, but universities aloofly seeing themselves as elite powers unto themselves, just like hospital consultants?

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